WaMu Close to Wrapping 360,000-SF Rehab

SAN ANTONIO-Nearly a year after Washington Mutual acquired its 360,000-sf administrative campus in San Antonio, the firm is close to wrapping up a 12-month remodeling project that will prepare the three-building property for an influx of up to 2,250 workers.

Robert M Deering, managing principal with IA Interior Architects, of Dallas, which is handling the interior design work, tells GlobeSt.com that the multimillion-dollar project is on an accelerated schedule. He says the project should be completed by July, just one year after Washington Mutual purchased the campus from WorldCom Technologies Inc. to consolidate its regional business units.

Deering adds that the architectural firm was retained to provide tenant improvements to the property as well as image branding and emergency back-up system analysis.

Interior demolition and reconstruction work has already been completed and infrastructure upgrades, including data and voice cable systems, backup emergency generators, an expanded data center and renovations to the cafeteria, are near completion. The firm will also provide interior design services for a fourth campus building which is currently being built on the campus at 20855 Stone Oak Parkway.

Washington Mutual moved about 100 employees into the building shortly after it was acquired and has been relocating workers to the new facility in phases since that time. Within eight months after taking title to the property, about 80% of the campus buildings were occupied, Deering says. Washington Mutual doesn’t plan to fully occupy the campus until 2007, however.

The regional center will support the firm’s consumer banking and home loan operations but could also include other business lines.